Newent could be used as a base for a 'park-and-ride' scheme serving the city of Gloucester, under a new initiative proposed by Gloucester-shire County Council.

But both Newent Town Council and Newent Chamber of Commerce have come out strongly against the plan and their objections were presented to the county council on Tuesday by town council representative Peter Street.

The issue was discussed at Monday's full town council meeting in Newent Market Hall, after Coun Street outlined the scheme's salient points.

He said: "The objective is to get more traffic off the road and to ease congestion in Gloucester."

If the project goes ahead, motorists planning to go shopping in Gloucester would be encouraged to come in and park in Newent's free car park and then catch the bus to the city.

But there will be no new bus services for Newent and no change to bus timetables.

Coun Street said it would be "a rebranding exercise" to encourage more shoppers and commuters on to the buses, rather than driving into Gloucester.

Under the proposals, other towns including Coleford and Lydney could also be highlighted as park and ride bases serving Gloucester.

Coun Len Lawton called the proposals "a dead duck", unless there is an incentive for people to catch the bus.

The mayor of Newent, Coun Fred Passant, read out a letter from Newent Chamber of Commerce, outlining the reservations of local retailers about the plan.

The chamber feared that such a scheme would have a negative impact on local trade and drive shoppers from Newent.

Coun Passant, while stressing that the proposals were at a very early stage, added: "We don't want people parking in Newent and shopping in Gloucester and we don't want to fill our car parks up with commuters' cars."

Coun Mary Duncan said there was already enough pressure on the peak-time bus services which visit Newent.

She said: "Our buses are already full to overflowing in the morning and evenings."